On December 25th, at Quaid-i-Azam’s tomb, amidst the respectful silence, I was surrounded by peace. As I stood there, lost in thought, an unsettling voice broke into the silence.

A young boy, perhaps no older than 15, stood before the imposing white structure. He began mimicking the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam, imitating his voice and gestures. Uneasy and anxious laughter quickly spread among the many people present at the spot. I looked around in disbelief, hoping someone would stop this insanity.

However, we all stayed still and fixed our eyes on the boy as if stunned. Just when it seemed that the public’s stiffness would never end, a figure emerged from the crowd. An old lady, her back slightly hunched but her eyes still sharp, stepped forward. She moved through the sea of shocked expressions until she was face to face with the boy.

With a grace that defied her age, the old lady smiled and gently slapped the boy. The sound echoed like thunder, a sharp crack that silenced the laughter and mockery. Suddenly there was a huge wave of praise across the crowd. The tension dissolved, replaced by a fresh sense of respect. The boy’s stunned expression modified into a mix of shame and surprise. He had come in contact with a living witness to the period he had been making fun of. No amount of lectures or history books could have taught the lesson that the elderly lady had demonstrated.

The people gathered again at the mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah as the child retreated. The marble statue appeared to be admiring the old lady’s gesture solemnly. When I realised that even in the face of such disrespect, there were still people who would stand up to preserve the honour of our past and our heroes, I felt a ray of hope at that moment.

Without uttering a single word, the old lady taught us the significance of defending our history and heroes. Her brave act became a silent, yet powerful lesson, an inspiration for those afraid to raise their voices against the wrong. In a world often filled with hesitation, her act of courage was a reminder that sometimes, all it takes is one person to spark a flame of change.

Published in Dawn, Young World, January 6th, 2024